By Erin Irish
In soccer, with a few exceptions, it is generally against the rules to use the hands to handle the ball. When a player uses the hands outside of one of the legal exceptions to handle the ball, the infraction is called a “handball.” Whether the handball is intentional or unintentional, the referee can give the player a card and the opposing team is awarded a free kick. If a player (other than the goalie) intentionally or unintentionally touches the ball with the hands in the goal box, the handball results in a penalty kick.
